Clasp for suspenders



(No Model.)

0. R. HARRIS.

CLASP FOR SUSPENDERS. No. 431,694. Patented July 8, 1890.

gvwamtoz UNITED STATES PATEWE CHARLES R. HARRIS, OF WVILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLASP FOR SUSPENDERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 431,694, dated July 8, 1890.

Application filed October 14, 1889. Serial No. 326,977. (No model.)

Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. HARRIS, of \Villiamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps for Suspenders and like Articles; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apro pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in clasps for suspenders and like articles.

Heretofore the metal loop carried by the button-hole strap has been secured within a leather or fabric loop attached by threads to the main suspender-straps. Such a construction is defective in that the contact. of the leather or fabric with the metal loop soon causes the former to split or tear at the point of contact thus rendering the suspenders worthless. V

The object of my invention is to provide an ornamental metal clasp for securing together the rear ends of the main Suspender-straps,

2 5 and also form a solid and substantial bearing for the loop carried by the button-hole strap.

With these ends in View my invention consists in the parts and combinations of parts, as will be more fully described, and pointed 0 out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a View of the rear ends of the main suspender-straps, showing my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the clasp 5 partly opened. Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the blank. Fig. t is a view in elevation through the strap and clasp, and Fig. 5 is a View of the inner face of the clasp attached to suspenders.

Arepresents the main Suspender-straps, and the button-hole straps, the latter being provided at their upper ends with a clasp D, carrying the loop E. This loop can be oblong and angular in shape, as shown, or it may be cir- 5 cular or any other convenient shape, and is loosely mounted in the lower end of the metallic clasp F, which latter forms the subj ectmatter of the present invention. This clasp F when applied to the straps is V-shaped, with straight sides and lower end,but it is evident that the lower end could be rounded or curved to suit the taste of the user or the convenience of the manufacturer. The blank G, from which the clasp is formed, is struck up from suitable sheet metal, and is provided on its side edges with teeth a and on its extreme lower edge or tongue d with teeth I). The blank is also V-shaped, and is provided on opposite sides near its lower end with notches or cut-away sections 0, which latter permit the end and sides to be bent over toward the body of the clasp or onto the main strap A, and also afford openings for the loop E. The blank D when constructed with an open front, as shown in the drawings, is bent at or near its center over onto itself, and the teeth a and b are bent inwardly at right angles to the body of the clasp, so as to enter and engage the straps A. The clasp, instead of being constructed with an open front, as shown in Figs. 1 to 4., inclusive. may have a closed front, or

it may have a skeleton or open-work front.

Witheither of these latter constructions the blank instead of being bent centrally, as before referred to, would of course be bent in lines parallel or approximately parallel with its side edges and bottom, sufficient material being turned under to overlap the side edges of the straps A. Vith the open front clasp the inner and outer edges of both sides thereof are provided with teeth, While with the closed fronts the outer edges only are toothed.

Before the blank G is shaped the loop E is placed on the lower end or tongue d, which latter is then turned to the position shown in Fig. 2. The sides of the clasp are then turned up, as shown in said figure, against the side edges of the end section d, thereby locking the loop in place. When the blank is thus shaped, the two ends of the straps Aare placed in position between the teeth or under the teeth, as the case may be, and the section 01 forced against same, the teeth of said section penetrating both straps. After section d has'been forced into position, or simultaneously with the forcing of said section against the straps, the side sections are also bent downwardly onto the straps, thus completely and effectually locking the clasp to the straps and securing the ends of the straps against separation or displacement. The end section being below the side sections is prevented from pulling out or releasing the loop, and the clasp when in position not only forms a substantial connection between the main straps and button-hole straps, but also forms a neat and ornamental'finish to the lower ends of the main straps. V I

. It is evident that numerousslight changes in the construction of the clasp might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the exact construction shown and described, but consider myself at-libert-y to make such changes as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is

1. A clasp made of sheet metal and consisting, essentially, of an approximately V- shaped body having toothed side edges, the latter being turned'over 011 the body, and'a depending tongue at its lower end, the said tongue being turned upwardly and overlapped at its upper edge by the bent side edges of the body, substantially as set forth.

2. A clasp made of sheet metal and consisting, essentially, of an approximately V- .shaped body having toothed side edges, the 

